THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES IN FULL AND ARRANGED FOR THEIR COMBINED USE. The Minister coming to the Font (which is then to be filled with pure water) and standing there shall say, Hath this Person [or this Child] been already baptized, or no? If they answer, No: then shall the Minister proceed as followeth, the People all standing until the Lord's Prayer. DEA *To be omitted in the Office of Infant Baptism. EARLY beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, *[and that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and they who are in the flesh cannot please God, but live in sin, committing many actual trangressions;] and our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerate and born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous goodness, he will grant to these Persons and these Infants that which by nature they cannot have; that they may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made living members of the same. T Then shall the Minister say, Let us pray. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark from perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Israel thy people through the Red Sea, figuring thereby thy holy Baptism; and by the Baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ in the river Jordan, didst sanctify Water to the mystical washing away of sin; We beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon these thy Servants and these Infants; wash them and sanctify them with the Holy Ghost; that they being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ's Church; and being stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally they may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee, world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. TOr this. LMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of thee for succour, the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead; We call upon thee for these thy Servants and these Infants, that they, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of sin, by spiritual regeneration. Receive them, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us who ask; let us who seek, find; open the gate unto us who knock; that these Persons and these Infants may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen, |